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Passenger Trench


Pattern: Ottobre 1/2013 #31 Passenger Trench
Fabric: tight weave cotton; lining light green dot cotton
Notions: gray buttons
Total Cost: ~$18.00
Size: 128cm
Child's Age: 8

[Tights: White pin dot Old Navy; Shoes: Mud boots Walmart; Raaf en Vos]
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It's taken me a while to post this one. Spring has gotten in the way. Weeding, biking, mostly weeding. But I'm so glad I got it done in time for the season.

 I've been wanting to make Monkey Pants a trench coat for several years now.  I bought my first issue of Burda just for the child's trench coat. I painstakingly traced the pattern, bought the fabric and never made it.
She had a trench from the Gap I loved so much, she wore it for about four years which is like wearing something for half your life when you're child.

When I saw this in the Ottobre issue, I was determined to make it before she got to old for the cuteness of it.
I had a heck of a time finding fabric. I really liked the orange color in the magazine but couldn't find anything like it.  There was a whole incident at the Bernina store with the lady that decided to cut me down to size when I asked for help finding "cotton poplin". She told me there was no such thing. All poplin is polyester. Took me to some hideous 70's polyester. Yes, I had told her I was making a child'r trench coat. When I politely tried to get her to not help me anymore, she through her Major in Fiber at me. Insane.  Then I found this blood orange, unmarked fabric on sale for about $4.00/yd which I'm pretty sure is COTTON POPLIN and bought it.  Then she tried to force me to buy matching thread. It was horrible.  I barely made it out of there without blowing my top.


I'm sure she would balk if she knew that I didn't use matching thread ON PURPOSE.  I used hot pink. Yes people, hot pink with blood orange.  I would have liked to find duck egg blue for the buttons, but no such luck so I had to settle for these gray ones which somehow happened to be the most expensive buttons at JoAnn's.



I was very happy with result despite getting off to a disappointing start. I expected the welt pockets to go quite well but I they weren't as smooth as they should be.  The pattern markings simply weren't enough for me on this one. I also messed up by forgetting to do the double top-stitching on them and had to do the second line after they were already on.  It's not too noticeable though.


Here's a peek at the lining. It's white cotton with light green/gray dots.  A fabric I already had in my stash.



It was freezing when we took this photos. She was a good sport and was very happy when I told her to just put on a hat and that it was OK to be cold in the photo..


And last, I found a great source for European shoes and was so happy when they opened an online store. That is until I went to pay. I had to swallow hard several times before clicking the submit button.  I store these beauties in my closet to insure nothing happens to them and maybe they can become an heirloom her daughter can wear someday.

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Comments

  1. ChristineMay 20, 2013 at 1:35 PM

    I love it! I have that magazine next to my bed. I'll have to make it for little one when she gets bigger.

    ReplyDelete
  2. SarahMay 21, 2013 at 12:22 AM

    Amazing! Very beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  3. SarahMay 21, 2013 at 12:26 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousMay 21, 2013 at 1:07 AM

    Really lovely.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anne MarieMay 21, 2013 at 4:40 AM

    It turned out lovely, and I am so impressed! Tht does not look like an easy garment to make. Your model is super cute!

    ReplyDelete
  6. TeresaMay 22, 2013 at 1:27 PM

    ok.....there have been so so many times that I have wanted to "say" something since Christmas...(I've been following your blog since it started!) like...I too finally decided to sew something for myself for Christmas using a Burda pencil skirt pattern!! or commenting how alike we think as I would read your amusing thoughts on sewing a pattern and having or not having (as it were) purchased the correct amount of fabric, or sending your husband to do so, etc. I have to say this absolutely perfect, beautifully sewn Passenger Trench finally did me in! You are so talented and I am truly looking forward to much more. Once again, you've inspired me to set aside some time and get in my sewing room! Thank you, thank you!!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousMay 22, 2013 at 3:44 PM

    It's so lovely!
    I love the contracting thread (and the shoes are divine)!
    I've been flirting this pattern ever since I saw it in the magazine - yet, I'm pretty sure I would be lost in their instructions. Maybe, next fall ...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. c(*oo*)oMay 22, 2013 at 7:31 PM

      Thank you.
      The only tricky part was the pockets for me. As long as you practice that step, the rest is much more straight forward. But it would be equally cute for the fall.

      Delete
  8. UnknownMay 22, 2013 at 7:27 PM

    so, so beautiful!! love your choice of orange fabric with the hot pink top stitching! and your styling with the hat and shoes is fantastic. This is one jacket that will be worn often, I believe!

    ReplyDelete
  9. CARUMay 23, 2013 at 11:01 AM

    Lola, this is so beautiful. And looks great in Monkey Pants. I think you have to go back to the store with your daughter in her coat to show the saleswoman what happened when you don`t use the same color thread. jijiji!!

    ReplyDelete
  10. ClaireJune 1, 2013 at 6:26 PM

    I came across your blog a long time ago and just loved the items you've made for your little girl. I bookmarked your page so that I could come back for inspiration if I ever had a little girl. My daughter is 7 months and now I just wish I had the skill to be able to complete some of the projects you've posted. You have impeccable taste and it is a joy looking through your blog.

    ReplyDelete
  11. EuniceOctober 7, 2013 at 9:08 PM

    This is one of my to-do list and your version really motivates me to try it. Do you sew 1 size larger to accommodate layering? Cause my girl is now between 128 and 134 so not sure if I shd go up to 134.

    ReplyDelete

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